Bernstein 'delighted' at CBE

30 December 2013 10:46

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Former Football Association chairman David Bernstein leads the list of sporting awards in the New Year Honours List but there is nothing for Wimbledon winner Andy Murray.

Bernstein is made a CBE for services to football, but expectations have been dashed that Murray - who received an OBE a year ago after winning Olympic gold and the US Open in 2012 - would also be recognised after becoming the first Briton to win the Wimbledon men's singles since 1936.

Speculation that David Beckham was in line for a knighthood after announcing his retirement from football has also proved unfounded.

Bernstein, who stepped down in July after reaching the age limit of 70, said he believed the honour also recognised his previous roles as chairman of Manchester City and Wembley.

"I think this honour relates to all my 20 years in football and I am really delighted," he told Press Association Sport.

"I had 10 years at Manchester City and it was a fantastic period to be involved at a key moment in its history, getting the club back on its feet and organising the deal for the new stadium.

"It was then enormously satisfying to be involved with Wembley through its construction phase to see it become the greatest stadium in the world.

Bernstein, who becomes chairman of British Red Cross from January 1, added: "My greatest satisfaction at the FA was being involved with development at the grassroots and in disabled football, and then in anti-discrimination culminating in the report to the Prime Minister."

Murray may have missed out but one former Wimbledon winner is recognised - Ann Jones, who beat Billie Jean King to win the 1969 Ladies title, receives a CBE after many years of work in tennis administration.

Other notable recipients include a CBE for West Ham vice-chairman Karren Brady, for services to entrepreneurship and women in business, and an OBE to London Marathon race director Dave Bedford, a former 10,000m world record holder.

Geoff Miller, who has retired as England cricket's national selector after a seven-year period which included three Ashes triumphs and England becoming world number one, receives an OBE.

Professor Peter Sonksen, the scientist who spearheaded the test for human growth hormone, receives an OBE.

Sonksen has worked on anti-doping with the International Olympic Committee since 1992 and his team project GH-2000 developed a test for the hormone that was used for the first time at the London 2012 Olympics.

Sonksen, emeritus professor at King's College, London, told Press Association Sport: "I was thrilled to discover I was to receive this honour - it was completely unexpected.

"It has been a very important step in anti-doping to develop this test, but the work must go on.

"Doping is still a big problem and will not go away - the cheats are always ahead of the testers and it is a running battle."

An MBE goes to Stuart Cummings, the much-respected rugby league referee who retired as RFL match officials director earlier this year.

"I am really pleased with the way things turned out and I am pleased my career has been marked in this way."

Rachel Yankey, the most capped England women's footballer, receives at OBE to add to the MBE she won in 2006, and there is an MBE for Katy McLean, captain of the England women's rugby union team.

McLean, who has won 65 caps, said her honour can serve as both a reward and an inspiration for women and girls in the sport.

She told Press Association Sport: ""It's a truly amazing honour, something in my career I never thought I would receive.

"This kind of award just shows how much our sport is growing and going in the right direction."